College & Career Weekly Update
RCHS Counseling Department Week of 01/04/2016
FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP THURSDAY, JANUARY 7th at 6:30 pm
CURRICULUM INFORMATION NIGHT
6:00 to 7:30 pm. All families and students are strongly encouraged to attend to learn
more about the course offerings for the coming school year. School counselors will be available to answer questions about graduation requirements, the course registration process, post-secondary planning, and resources offered through the school counseling office.
College Acceptance Letters
A Guide for using Common App
Instructions for Creating a Parchment Account
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Anwie08OJo&feature=youtu.be&hd=1
College Scorecard
Ms. Burkhardt just wrote a new blog post about the resource and all of the features it offers. Click here to read that post to learn more about how you can utilize the information in your college search!
Scholarships
Army ROTC scholarship: Are you a Senior who would like to apply for the Army ROTC scholarship? Apply now! Why? Because the next selection board meets in January. Army ROTC scholarships are awarded by a national selection board at Ft. Knox, KY. Tentative dates for the next two series:
- January 25th: Second selection board meets to review applicants not selected in October, and new applicants
- February 12th: Results are released
- January 10th: last day to start the scholarship application
- February 29th: Deadline to complete application to be eligible for March board
- March 7th: Third selection board meets to review applicants not selected in January, and new applicants
- March 25th: results released
The DoDMERB physical exam is not required to apply for the scholarship. Physical exams will be scheduled after the award is made. Students may need your athletic director's assistance in administering the Scholarship Physical Fitness Assessment.
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the Army ROTC Scholarship expert, Mr. Greg Killeen at greg.killeen@ung.edu or 706-864-1884.
JCI Senate Foundation - This foundation grants $1000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who plan to continue their education at accredited post-secondary colleges, universities or vocational schools. The funds awarded must be used for educational purposes in the first year of full-time study. The application is available online at: http://www.usjcisenate.org/index.php/scholarship-program and in the Counseling Office. If you would like Ms. van Ravenswaay to mail your application and materials, everything is due to her NO LATER THAN Friday, January 8th, 2016. If you choose to mail your application yourself, the deadline is January 15th, 2016.
The BBB Student of Integrity Scholarship Awards: This is a $1000 scholarship for graduating seniors. The application consists of an essay, your transcript, a letter of recommendation and an activities sheet. Return completed applications to Ms. van Ravenswaay no later than January 27, 2016.
The Pamplin Leadership Award: This is a one year, merit-based, $5000 Virginia Tech tuition scholarship. The nominee from RCHS will have a cumulative GPA of a 3.8 and be ranked in the top ten percent of his or her class. Applicants do not need to know of their admission decision to Virginia Tech at the time of application. Students who wish to apply for the Pamplin Leadership Award are not required to also submit a University Honors application. However, a student must be willing to join University Honors should they be offered and accept this award. Please see your counselor if you would like to be nominated, and go to http://www.univhonors.vt.edu/html/scholarships.html for Pamplin Leadership Award and other scholarship opportunities. Deadline to submit the application is January 29th, 2016.
Lee-Jackson Foundation - The Foundation honors General Robert E. Lee's and General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's shared belief in the importance of a well-educated populace by working to increase educational opportunities for Virginia’s youth. The Foundation has established a non-discriminatory scholarship program to encourage high school students to continue their education, and sponsors an annual essay competition. Scholarships are awarded for outstanding essays which demonstrate a carefully researched, well-reasoned examination of the historical legacy left by Generals Lee and Jackson. The Foundation awards one $10,000, eight $2,000, and nine $1,000 scholarships to public, private, and home school students throughout the state of Virginia. Public and private school students: must submit to the high school principal: a completed Lee-Jackson Educational Foundation Scholarship Application Form (available from Ms. van Ravenswaay guidance or from the Foundation’s web site at www.lee-jackson.org) and a completed essay. Essays and applications are due to Ms. van Ravenswaay or Mr. Hand NO LATER THAN Monday, February 1st, 2016.
Foundation for Roanoke Valley Scholarships: This foundation oversees several scholarships for which RCHS seniors are eligible. The Alphin Family Scholarship; the Margaret Jones Irvin Scholarship; the Walter M. Otey Scholarship and the Dianne E.H. Wilcox Scholarship. There is one online application for all of them, but the requirements are very specific for each one. Please visit the Foundation's website for details: www.foundationforroanokevalley.org. If you need help with your application or any of the requirements, please see Ms. van Ravenswaay. The online application is due by February 26, 2016.
DuPont Community Credit Union 2016 Scholarship Contest: Each year the DuPont Community Credit Union offers $1000 scholarships to students continuing their education. Scholarships are awarded to one graduating senior from each high school in their service area. Applications, criteria and instructions are available at: www.mydccu.com The deadline to apply is March 1st, 2016. DCCU would like to have at least three entries from RCHS.
Society of the Cincinnati History Essay for Scholarship – This $3000 scholarship is available to a graduating senior who will attend any four year college or university in Virginia for the fall of 2016. The essay topic is: The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. Contest rules, applications and award criteria are available in the Counseling Office. The essay is due to Ms. van Ravenswaay NO LATER THAN March 16, 2016.
Southern States Scholarship Program - Applicants must be accepted at Virginia Tech or Virginia State University, and must be the son or daughter of a producer of agricultural products. FFA and/or 4-H experience is preferred but not required. If you are interested, see Ms. van Ravenswaay for a Southern States interest form to mail to your college.
Recruiter Visits
United States Marine Corps: Tuesday, January 12th
United States Army: Wednesday, January 13th
United States Air Force: Thursday, January 7th
Virginia National Guard: Friday, January 8th
United States Air Force: Thursday, April 14th
SAT – Important Dates
March 5th SAT* at RCHS; Deadline to register: Feb 5th
May 7th SAT* at RCHS; Deadline to register: April 8th
June 4th SAT* NOT at RCHS; Deadline to register: May 5th
*Redesigned SAT
Accommodations are available for students with disabilities. Please see your counselor.
ACT – Important Dates:
February 6th ACT NOT at RCHS; Deadline to register: Jan 8th
April 9th ACT at RCHS; Deadline to register: March 4th
June 11th ACT at RCHS; Deadline to register: May 6th
Accommodations are available for students with disabilities. Please see your counselor.
*FREE* SAT Prep: Khan Academy's Partnership with College Board
College Board and the Khan Academy have entered into a partnership to provide free SAT preparation for students. You will have access to four official full-length practice tests, plus study and test-taking tips, interactive practice, thousands of practice questions, video lessons, and hints. There are also short quizzes and instant feedback. To learn more, please go to: https://www.khanacademy.org/sat
Parchment: How to Send Your Transcript
Parchment is our new transcript service. It is free to our students. We will be using Parchment to send all transcripts. Anyone asking for a transcript to be sent (including the Common Application) must have a Parchment account and a completed “Blue Sheet” on file with Ms. van Ravenswaay. Please create an account at www.parchment.com and set up your preferences.
Register For Your Free Account:
1. Visit Parchment.com
2. Click ‘Sign Up Now’
Request Your Transcript:
1. In your account, go to ‘Transcripts’
2. Click ‘Send Transcripts’
3. Select a destination
4. Request is confirmed
Track Your Transcript:
1. Log into your Parchment.com account
2. In the top navigation bar, click ‘Transcripts’
3. Click ‘Order History’ to see the status
IF YOU ARE APPLYING TO A COMMON APP SCHOOL, YOU MUST SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR "COMMON APP" AND INCLUDE YOUR COMMON APP ID NUMBER. See Ms. van Ravenswaay with any questions.
Or see our new video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Anwie08OJo&feature=youtu.be&hd=1
Become a Delegate to Boys and Girls State!
http://vagirlsstate.org/
www.vaboysstate.org/
Other Scholarship Opportunities:
- American Culinary Federation Scholarships - https://www.acfchefs.org/ACF/Education/Scholarships/ACF/Education/Scholarships/
- NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics - http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5257
- Congressional App Challenge (Deadline January 15th) - http://goodlatte.house.gov/pages/appcontest